Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area (NEA) is comprised of 1,900 acres of serpentine barren. The area has over 39 rare, threatened, or endangered plant species as well as rare insects, rocks and minerals. There are seven miles of marked hiking trails. The visitor center has meeting rooms, a reference library and exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the area.

Serpentine is a type of rock that contains very little quartz and mineral. When the rock erodes, it leaves behind a soil not suitable for much vegetative growth. The serpentine rock at Soldiers Delight, however, did contain a significant amount of chromite, the chief mineral involved in making chrome. Maryland was once the world’s leading producer of chrome and the old mines can still be seen on hikes throughout Soldier’s Delight.

Download the most recent calendar of programming at Soldiers Delight. Join staff and volunteer on hikes that explore the mining history of the area and rocks and minerals found at Soldiers Delight. Home to a Scales and Tales aviary, Soldiers Delight also hosts Critter Encounter programs featuring owls and raptors. Other monthly programs include a kid’s bird watching club and stargazing.

Before there was geocaching, there was letterboxing – a family activity that combines elements of map reading, hiking, creative expression, and puzzle solving. Find out more about Letterboxing at Soldiers Delight.